Electric elevator



No. 622,355. Pa tontad Apr. 4, I899. T. w. HEERMANS &. N. wmcmauokELEGTRIC ELEVATOR.

(Application flhd In. 99, 1808.) I (In Iodol.) 3 Sheeh-$heet I.

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m: "ohms PETERS cc, PNOTO LITHD. WASHINGTON, u. c.

No. 622,351 Patented Apr. 4, I899. T. W. HEERMANS &. N. WHICHELLO.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

(Application filed Jan. 29, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

No. 622,355. Patented Apr. 4, I899.

T. W. HEERMANS &'N. WHICHELLU.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

(Application filed Jan. 29, 1598.)

(N0 Model.) 3 Shbats-Shaet 3 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

'lIIADDEUS w. IIEEnMANs, OF EVANSTON, AND NORMAN WIIIOHELLO, oroIIIoAeO, ILLINOIs, ASSIGNORS TO J HN A. Roonn, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,355, dated April 4,1899.; Application filed January 29, 1898. Serial No. 668,453. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, THADDEUS W. HEER- MANs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Evanston, and NORMAN WHICHELLO, a subject of theQueen of Great Britain, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Electric Elevator, ofwhich the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to electric elevators, and particularly to meansfor controlling the circuits of the hoisting-n1otors.

The object of the invention is to provide mechanical means forpositively gaging the rhcostat or controller-arm.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination,location, and rela tive arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, andfinally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a plan view of anelectric elevator,showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is abroken detail View, in verticalsection, on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows and showing the arrangement of means foractuating the rheostat or controller-arm. Fig. 3 is a similar view onthe line 3 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 2a isa detached detail view, in side elevation, parts broken away and partsin transverse section, showing the construction and arrangement of theinvention.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

In the drawings, reference-sign A designates a suitable supporting baseor frame, in which is suitably journaled the drum B, upon which is woundthe car-hoisting cables.

0 is hoistinganotor, the shaft D of which is suitably geared to the axleof drum B for rotating the latter.

E is a brake-wheel for tho motor-shaft, and

'F the braking means.

The parts so far described may be of any suitable ordinary or well-knownconstruction and type, and inasmuch as the present invention does notreside in the specific construction and arrangement thereof we deemitunnecessary to more specifically illustrate or describe the same.

Suitably mounted and arranged are a se ries of contacts G forcontrolling the circuits to the motor 0.

H is a contact-arm for successively making contact with the contacts Gin order to control the circuits of the motor. It is evident that thecontacts G may control resistances or they may alter the motor-circuitleads or may successively cut in or out of the motorcircuit resistancesor auxiliary coils. We shall therefore hereinafter refer to the arm 11as the controller-arm irrespective of the particular operation of sucharm in effecting a controlling of the motor-circuits.

In the construction and arrangement of electric elevators it isexceedingly important to provide an arrangement wherein thecontroller-arm may be started at whatever posi= tion the hoistingmotor-shaft may be and hence at whatever position the car may be. It isalso important to provide means whereby the controller-arm ismanipulated to perform its function when once started up, to the endthat the motor when started may quickly attain its desired speed byhaving the resistances included in the motor-circuit when it restsremoved therefrom or by commutating the fields of the motor to effectthe same purpose. It is also important that when the controller-arm isactuated to its fullest extent it will be held in such position duringthe subsequent operation of the motor and until the requirements of itsactuation have been fulfilled, and thereafter it is important thatprovision be made for returning said arm to its original or initialposition. These desirable objects are obtained in the presentconstruction and arrangement in the following man- 95 nor: The arm H ispivotally mounted, as at J, and the hub of said arm is provided with anabutment K. Suitablyjournaled in the framework and in proper relation tothe controller-arm II is ashaft L. The series of arms M are mountedeccentrieally upon said shaft L and have their ends arranged undersuitable conditions, hereinafter to be referred to, to engage theabutment K of the controllerarm H. In the particular form shown theshaft L carries a series of eccentric-disks N, and the arms M are in theform of straps, which receive the said disks N. The ends of said arms Mare arranged to rest loosely in the yoke 0, carried at one end of alever P, pivoted to a fixed support, as at Q, whereby when said lever Iis rocked about its pivot the free ends of arms M may be raised to aposition such as to clear the abutment K or may be lowered into positionfor the free ends of the said arms to engage said abutment. The normalposition of yoke O is such as to maintain the free ends of arms M inposition to engage behind the abutment K, as clearly shown. Thelimiting-stop R serves to adj ustably regulate the position of thelever 1. Any suitable or convenient means may be employed for rockinglever I. This may be accomplished by means of a connect-- ing-rod S, asshown in Fig. a, suitably actuated from the car by hand-cables orotherwise, or said lever P maybe rocked by means of a cam projection 011the disk T, suitably mounted and operated by an auxiliary motor or othermeans controlled from the car, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. This diskis provided in the periphery thereof with a notch U, arranged to beengaged by the end of a weighted arm V, carried by the lever XV,pivotally supported at its upper end, as at 5, and out of verticalalinement with the periphery of disk T at a point where the end of arm Vbears thereagainst, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. Bythis constructionit will be seen that when disk T is rotated into suitable position withthe notch U opposite the end of arm V the end of said arm will becarried by gravity into such notch, thereby locking the disk T againstrotation. The lower end of the lever XV carries an adjustable set-screw0, whereby the position of said arm V relative to the periphery of diskT may be regulated. The disengagement of arm V from notch U to enabledisk T to be rotated may be effected in any suitable or convenient manner, and when such disengagement is eifected said disk may be rotated inany suitable or convenient manner by hand-cable or electrically from thecar, whereby the cam projection therein engages lever P and rocks theyoke or head 0 carried thereby to raise the ends of arms M out ofengaging position with respect to the abutment K or lowers the same intoengagement with such abutment. It will be observed that the arms M arein close proximity to each other and that a large 11 umber of these armsare provided. It will also be seen that the position of each succeedingeccentric disk or crank connection N on shaft L varies slightly from theposition of the preceding disk or crank connection, whereby thesucceeding arms M are not advanced or projected endwise in unison witheach other, but the limit of throw of each arm is attained a short spaceof time after the limit of throw of the preceding arm has been attained,the variations depending on the variations in the relative posit-ions ofthe eccentric disks or crank connections N on shaft L. Thecontroller-arm H may be held normal in one limit of its rocking motionin any suitable manner, as by means of weighted arm 7, as in Figs. 2 and3, or by means of spring 8, as in Fig. i.

The operation is as follows: Supposing the controller-arm to be in itsnormal limit of rocking motion-that is, occupying a position therein, asindicated in Figs. 2 and 4-it will be observed that at least one of thearms M is always in position to engage behind the abutment K. Nowsuppose that it be desired to actuate the controller-awn ll. Rotation isimparted in any suitable or convenient manner to shaft L, the particulararm or arms M which, when the controller-arm II is in normal position,is in engagement behind abutment K, is advanced, thereby rockingcontroller-arm H so as to make successive connection with the contactsG. \Vhen the limit of throw of the initially-engaging arm M is attained,one or more of the succeeding arms will have fallen into engagingposition with respect to the abutment K, and thus the arm II ismaintained in the opposite limit of its rocking motion or throw by thesucceeding arms M attaining their respective limits of projection untilfinally it is desired to return the controller-arm H, whereupon theoperator on the car effects a rotation of camdisk T, which effects arocking of lever 1, whereby the under edges of all the arms M areengaged by the head 0 of such lever and raised out of engaging positionwith respect to abutment K,thereby permitting the weight of lever 7 orspring 8, as the case may be, to return the controller-arm to itsinitial or normal position. I

The shaft L may be rotated in any suitable or convenient manner-as, forinstance, through the intermeshing gears 10 and ll, re spectivelymounted on said shaft L and the counter-shaft 9, suitably geared to theshaft of drum B, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be seen'that by using a number ofeccentric or crank actuated arms M there will always be at least one ormore of the arms in proper position to engage behind abutment-surface Kto start the controller-arm II in whatever position the shaft A, andhence also the motorshaft, may be. It will also be seen that when thesaid arm H attains the limit of its swinging motion by reason of theactuation of its initially-engaging arm, as above indicated, the othereccentric or crank actuated arms M cooperate with the first orinitially-acting eccentric-arm M to retain the controller-arm in thatposition-that is, as the first arm attains its limit of throw and beginsto recede the next one to it is still advancing and on gages theabutment-surface, thus preventing the controller-arm from receding asuflicient distance from its extreme limit to allow it to breakconnection with the last contact of the series G.

It WllltlSO be seen from the foregoing description that thecontroller-arm 11 may be actuated, if desired, from a cont-rolled motor.The controller-arm is always driven in the same direction whatever maybe the direction of rotation of shaft L and hence in Whatever directionthe motor may operate. The

power for effecting a rocking of controllerarm II is positive andpractically unlimited, which is a particular advantage over armsoperated by solenoids, weights, frictions, or other devices capable ofexerting only a comparatively limited or prescribed power. Therefore incase the contacts G offer any unusual resistance to the passagetheretlirough and in contact therewith the said arm will neverthelessmake its complete travel notwithstanding such conditions. The apparatusis purely mechanical, and hence avoids the complexity of magnets orelectrical devices and their circuits. No dash-pots are required, as thespeed of throw for the controller-arm H is dependent upon thepredetermined rate of rotation of the shaft L, the throw of theeccentrics or crank connection, and the distance of theabutment-surfaces K from the axis about which the controller-arm IIturns.

Having now set forth the object and nature of our invention and a formof apparatus embodying the same and having set forth and described theconstruction, function, and mode of operation of such apparatus what weclaim as new and useful and of our own invention, and desire, to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a controlling device for electric motors, a controller-arm, arotatable shaft, a crank or-ecce'ntric actuated by said shaft andarranged to loosely engage said arm, whereby when said crank oreccentric is projected said arm is positively moved in one direction,independent means for returning said arm, and means for rotating saidshaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

In a controlling device for electric motors, a controller-arm, arotatable shaft, a plurality of arms having crank or eccentricconnections with said shaft arranged to engage said arms for actuatingthe same and means for rotating said shaft, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a controller-arm, a pluralityof eccentric or crank arms of varying periods of throw arranged toengage said controller-arm, means for actuating said crank or eccentricarms and means for disengaging said arms from said controller-arm atWill, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a controller-arm having anabutment-surface, a plurality of eccentric or crank arms of varyingpositions of eccentricity arranged to successively engage suchabutment-surfaces and means for actuating said arms, as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a controller-arm havingabutmentsurfaees, a plurality of eccentric or crank arms of varyingpositions of eccentricity arranged to engage said abutment-surfaces,means for ac tuating said arms and means for disengaging all of saidarms simultaneously and at will of its movement, a series of eccentricor crank arms of Varying positions of eccentricity arranged to engagesaid arm, means for actuating said eeeentric arms and means forsimultaneously disengaging all of said arms from said controller-arm atwill, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a shaft, means for rotatingthe same, a series of eccentrics .of varying positions of eccentricitymounted thereon, a corresponding series of arms actuated by saideccentrics, a controller-arm arranged to be engaged by saideccentric-arms, a'lever having a head arranged to simultaneously engagesaid eccentric-arms, and means for rocking said lever at will, wherebyall of said eccentric-arms are simultaneously disengaged from saidcontrollerarm, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a shaft, means for rotatingthe same, a series of eccentrics of varying positions of eccentricitymounted thereon, a corresponding series of eccentric-arms actuated bysaid eccentrics, a controller-arm arranged to be en- TIIADDEUS IV.IIEERMANS. NORMAN VIIIOHELLO.

Witnesses:

S. E. DARBY, E. O. SEMPLE.

